Yesterday, the mercury after being hesitant for a few days finally crossed 40 and stood at a maximum of 40.2°C, though for now the nights are still pleasantly cool at below 20°C.
Summer is the most harsh season in Nagpur, in fact it is harsh for most of central India, temperatures will now progressively and rapidly rise and hover around 43 to 46°C for next 45 to 60 days. Yes feet blistering hot, though not hot enough to fry an egg on the pavement in reality, you can really boil an egg if you just put it in a closed metal container and put it out in the sun for an afternoon. Add to it a hot local wind which blows called “lou” which can give you a heat stroke within minutes if you are not careful enough to take precautions.
The atmosphere however is very dry so you do not swelter in the sticky heat like you do in places like Mumbai or Chennai and because it is dry ‘Dessert’ coolers work very well and can easily maintain a temperature of around 18 to 19°C. I particularly love the smell of fresh khus pads used in these coolers. Summer also is the season for my favourite fruits Mango and Watermelons (no puns intended). Nothing to beat the pleasure of eating raw mango slices with salt, freshly picked from the trees in the garden. As children we use to roam the streets raiding the mango trees in the neighbourhood and getting shouted at for throwing stones 😀
Another Summer favourite are the Mogra Flowers, the sweet scent of which fill the air every morning.